Sparrows fly in to occupy nests set up by teacher | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: At a time when urbanisation and habitat loss are threatening the survival of house sparrows, a schoolteacher in Malkangiri has taken it upon herself to ensure their conservation. Snehashree Soren, a teacher at Padmagiri SSD High School in Malkangiri, crafts bird nests using eco-friendly materials, investing her own resources to provide safe shelters for these tiny creatures. She makes customised pots and places them on the school campus to sensitise students and local residents.
“Since my childhood, I was so connected to the chirping of sparrows, and their sound was a part of my mornings. But now the familiar sound is fading, and if we don’t do anything, our children may not be able to know about these beautiful birds. I could not just watch them vanish,” Soren said.
Soren repurposes commonly used clay pots into aesthetically designed bird nests. She decorates them with artistic motifs and hangs them in school corridors and public spaces, creating a safe place for sparrows. Her efforts have already yielded results in the last year, and most nests are now occupied by birds.
Her initiative has not only created a nurturing environment for sparrows but also inspired students and locals. The school, which once had a silent corridor, now echoes with the chirping of sparrows, thanks to Soren, who has placed earthen pots and nests in the ceiling.
“Being a tribal-dominated area, our children have been brought up amidst nature, but after they watched Snehashree Soren’s efforts to protect birds and their habitats, they have become more sensitive towards nature. As teachers, we must be role models for our children, and I am happy that she is inspiring the kids through her efforts,” said Lal Bahadur Mallick, headmaster of the school.
Soren not only places earthen pots for sparrows but also prepares eco-friendly nests and puts water bowls for the birds and animals during the summer months. “Summer is always the hardest time for birds. I have seen them struggling for water, shelter, and a safe place to rest. If every household kept a small pot of water and a nest for the sparrows, we could bring them back,” said Soren, who teaches mathematics and science to high school students.
“Since my childhood, I was so connected to the chirping of sparrows, and their sound was a part of my mornings. But now the familiar sound is fading, and if we don’t do anything, our children may not be able to know about these beautiful birds. I could not just watch them vanish,” Soren said.
Soren repurposes commonly used clay pots into aesthetically designed bird nests. She decorates them with artistic motifs and hangs them in school corridors and public spaces, creating a safe place for sparrows. Her efforts have already yielded results in the last year, and most nests are now occupied by birds.
Her initiative has not only created a nurturing environment for sparrows but also inspired students and locals. The school, which once had a silent corridor, now echoes with the chirping of sparrows, thanks to Soren, who has placed earthen pots and nests in the ceiling.
“Being a tribal-dominated area, our children have been brought up amidst nature, but after they watched Snehashree Soren’s efforts to protect birds and their habitats, they have become more sensitive towards nature. As teachers, we must be role models for our children, and I am happy that she is inspiring the kids through her efforts,” said Lal Bahadur Mallick, headmaster of the school.
Soren not only places earthen pots for sparrows but also prepares eco-friendly nests and puts water bowls for the birds and animals during the summer months. “Summer is always the hardest time for birds. I have seen them struggling for water, shelter, and a safe place to rest. If every household kept a small pot of water and a nest for the sparrows, we could bring them back,” said Soren, who teaches mathematics and science to high school students.
